New Delhi: The Supreme Court Tuesday refused to entertain a plea seeking direction for withdrawal of orders by some states which proposed salary cut of police personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying these are "policy matters" and it is for the government to consider the issue.
A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan was hearing, through video-conferencing, a plea which also sought personal protection equipment (PPE) for all police personnel and their families on the ground that cops are serving on the frontline making them vulnerable to Covid-19 or Coronavirus.
While observing that it would not entertain the plea, the bench, also comprising Justices S K Kaul and B R Gavai, allowed the petitioner to give a representation on the issue to the appropriate authority.
The bench was hearing a plea filed by retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Bhanupratap Barge who had sought directions to the Centre and states to make provisions for payment of 'risk and hardship' allowance, incentives in the form of bonus and additional salary to police officers who are presently serving on the frontline during the lockdown situation.
The counsel appearing for the petitioner told the bench that they are not raising the issue of risk and allowance but the salary of police officers are being deducted in some states.